Marburg virus: Rwanda restricts funeral sizes following outbreak

“Normal business and other activities” can continue in the East African country, said the advisory, published on Sunday evening.

However, it also urged the public to avoid close contact with “symptomatic individuals”. The ministry listed symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhoea.

The virus can cause death through extreme blood loss.

The health ministry’s guidelines said hospital patients would not be permitted visitors for the next 14 days.

Patients will also only be allowed one caregiver at a time, the guidelines said.

In numerous developing countries, patients’ loved ones perform basic care tasks – such as washing and feeding – that are typically performed by a nurse in other countries.

On Saturday, when the official death toll was six, Rwanda’s health minister said most of the victims were healthcare workers in a hospital intensive care unit.

Most of the reported cases have been in the capital, Kigali.

Rwanda said it was intensifying contact tracing, surveillance and testing to help contain the spread.

The health minister said on Sunday that officials were tracking about 300 people who had come into contact with individuals affected by the Marburg virus.

The authorities have urged the public to practice good hygiene, such as frequent hand washing.

This is the first time Marburg has been confirmed in Rwanda.

Neighbouring Tanzania reported an outbreak in 2023, while three people died in Uganda in 2017.